Canaries march on after FA Cup replay

FA CUP

A MUCH improved Barwell breezed past Evesham United in a team performance where everyone was on top form, writes Murray Dworkin.

A penalty midway through the first half and a late second were enough to see the Evostik Northern Premier outfit through to play Ilkeston in the next round.

It could have been many more but for the woodwork and some good saves from visiting keeper Kevin Sawyer but Max Smith-Varnam in the Barwell goal had a quiet night.

As early as the third minute the excellent Blair Anderson crossed for captain Brady Hickey. Sawyer spilled his attempt to catch and Hickey drove from close range but Sawyer recovered to block.

Barwell showed that they meant business when another cross from Anderson again found Hickey but his shot was well pouched by Sawyer.

Soon after a cross from Dale Taylor found the returning Nathan Edgington’s head but he was just off target.

Wave after wave of pressure was exerted by the home side with Joel Bell and Anderson in particular in threatening mood. Good work on the right from Anderson gave Hickey a chance to poke the ball home but he could not find a way through the crowded defence.

A run through into the Evesham area from Bell saw him brought down by Will Wellon and a penalty awarded. Hickey strode up confidently and despatched the penalty kick.

In the second half, Evesham came more into the game but it was still Barwell who had the initiative. Just two minutes into the half Joe Ballinger had the ball in the net but the referee Mr Dallison spotted an infringement in the build-up and blew for a foul.

Evesham’s best effort came when a Leon Jeanne cross was headed just over the bar by Paul Fahy.

Barwell responded and Chris Spencer had a shot from 35 yards that again had Sawyer scrambling across his goal to save at the post.

Another golden chance fell to the Canaries when an excellent ball from Hickey gave Anderson another chance to cross with Edgington waiting to stab home but he was overstretched and the shot from six yards went wide.

Evesham had the ball in the net but Lance Smith’s charge on Smith-Varnam was adjudged a foul and the goal was disallowed.

The Robins were enjoying their best spell of the game and put the ball home again two minutes later but on this occasion Smith was offside.

Barwell weathered this storm. A Hickey free-kick found Edgington’s head but his glanced effort although heading goalwards could only find Sawyer again at his post.

Barwell finally saw their efforts rewarded again. Great work in the left corner by Edgington gave him the chance to set up young substitute Reece Mitchell who slammed the ball into the net from eight yards.

In stoppage time, Barwell had their last chance on goal but although substitute Amar Sandhu created a shooting chance for Mitchell, he could only drive the ball well wide.

BARWELL were held to a goalless draw away to top-ofthe-table Buxton on Saturday.

Much of the result can be put down at Barwell’s keeper Smith-Varnam’s performance, making key saves throughout the match, and being the key to the visitors counter-attacking tactics.

Bradley Grayson thought he had taken the lead for Buxton, for the assistant referee to raise his flag, before they Niall Rowe put a speculative shot over the bar for Barwell.

The home side thought they had won it at the death, however, when a piledriver from Nicky Walker was tipped over.